4 Bulletin 138. 



in these objects, with some observation as to form, the parts and the 

 color of these fungi, with some one to whom the deterniination of the 

 plant might be referred for a few times, would at length enable many 

 persons to recognize a number of the commoner species, just as they 

 come to recognize the more common birds. Many of us come to 

 know the common birds from childhood without any technical 

 knowledge of ornithology. It is by observation year after year, and 

 association with our elders, who have in a similar way come to know 

 them, that we in turn know them. 



When once there are several in a neighborhood who can distinguish 

 a few of the commoner mushrooms, this information might be handed 

 down to generations, so that there would be no more difficulty for those 

 who chose to observe carefully, to learn well several of the fleshy fungi, 

 than there would be in coming to know many of the natural objects 

 which we learn in a similar way. One might not be able to name the 

 technical characters of the plant, but after observing it a number of 

 seasons, it would be known on sight, or after an examination of the 

 several parts, when these combined would present to the mind the 

 characters of the plant as a whole, which makes up the concept of the 

 species in the mind of those who do not make a pretense to a study 

 of science. In addition to this, if some attention in the schools could 

 be given to teaching the general characters of these plants (not a 

 technical treatment), it would lay the foundation for the gradual appli- 

 cation of this knowledge in later observations. 



Another reason why so few are able to recognize no more than one, 

 is the general impression with many persons that there are but two 

 species of this group, the '■'■ muslwootn'' and the '-'■ toadstool^ That is, 

 many persons have the impression that there is but one '' mush- 

 room," the one which is " pink underneath," while all the others are 

 " toadstools." Still others believe that all the members of the mush- 

 room family can be separated into two groups, mushrooms which are 

 edible, and toadstools which are poisonous. But this is all a mistake. 

 There is no infallible test, like the " silver- spoon " test, nor any set of 

 characters which will enable one to clearly separate these plants into 

 two such groups. There are quite a number of these plants which 

 are edible, a few which are very poisonous, a large number which 

 are more or less indigestible, and a still greater number which have 

 not yet been tested, and therefore their properties are not known. 



